Pilot Bushing Trick -- Useful!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Denver CO
Pilot Bushing Trick -- Useful!
As many of you know, the tip of the input shaft rides in a bushing in the crank called the pilot bushing. Many mechanics doing your average clutch job are too lazy to replace this because it is a bugger to get out. This can cause drastic failure in the future if the bushing is worn due to vibration because the crank and input shaft will stop rotating about a common axis. Here is a nice and easy trick to get it out...
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
As many of you know, the tip of the input shaft rides in a bushing in the crank called the pilot bushing. Many mechanics doing your average clutch job are too lazy to replace this because it is a bugger to get out. This can cause drastic failure in the future if the bushing is worn due to vibration because the crank and input shaft will stop rotating about a common axis. Here is a nice and easy trick to get it out...
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Denver CO
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
There are various different methods, that is one I never tried because it always seems the bushing is in there too tight.
When I was putting my 427ci together the shop put in a normal pilot bearing to polish my new crank. I told them I had to put a roller bearing in there because that's what the TKO 600 calls for. They ended up cutting the bearing out with a small cutoff wheel or grinder, (not sure because I was not there ) it was in there so tight. This is a friend of mine's shop who has been in the business for 30 years they know all the tricks
When I was putting my 427ci together the shop put in a normal pilot bearing to polish my new crank. I told them I had to put a roller bearing in there because that's what the TKO 600 calls for. They ended up cutting the bearing out with a small cutoff wheel or grinder, (not sure because I was not there ) it was in there so tight. This is a friend of mine's shop who has been in the business for 30 years they know all the tricks
Last edited by MotorHead; Jan 28, 2010 at 01:35 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
As many of you know, the tip of the input shaft rides in a bushing in the crank called the pilot bushing. Many mechanics doing your average clutch job are too lazy to replace this because it is a bugger to get out. This can cause drastic failure in the future if the bushing is worn due to vibration because the crank and input shaft will stop rotating about a common axis. Here is a nice and easy trick to get it out...
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
1. Fill the center of the pilot bushing with heavy duty axle grease.
2. find a flat punch or chisel handle that is barely smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bushing.
3. Position the punch over the grease in the hole
4. hit it with a rubber mallet-- the bushing pops right out due to hydraulic pressure in the grease! Enjoy!
Been doing it this way for over 40 years. I usually use a wooden dowel that is fairly snug in the pilot bushing. Doesn't matter how tight the bushing is - if you do it right, hydraulics will always win!
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Denver CO
I agree also that a wooden dowel is the best item to use to actually actuate the bearing out of the slot.
As shown in my cheesy ms paint diagram... this method cannot fail... nor can it damage the parts. Cheers!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
Makes sence to me, same principle as sending a bullet down a barrel I suppose.. kinda.
Thanks for sharing! I see it as another tool in my toolbox
Thats funny about the shirt! sorry-
Thanks for sharing! I see it as another tool in my toolbox
Thats funny about the shirt! sorry-
Last edited by 2armor; Jan 28, 2010 at 02:23 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
This method won't work for the newer LS-style engines. There is a freeze plug at the end of the crank and forcing grease in will dislodge the plug, causing an oil leak.
I found this out as I was cutting a dowel to fit into my LS1 pilot bushing. My son looked up the procedure online and stopped me ~5 minutes before I ruined my day.
Rick B.
I found this out as I was cutting a dowel to fit into my LS1 pilot bushing. My son looked up the procedure online and stopped me ~5 minutes before I ruined my day.
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: columbus oh
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
There is a special tool you can use to keep the grease from getting all over you. It is called a shop rag! You wrap it around the punch and hold it in place with your hand!!!
I have had some luck with this procedure but it did not work with one bearing that was really tight. Had to use a bearing puller. Thought I was going to break the fingers off the puller.
I have had some luck with this procedure but it did not work with one bearing that was really tight. Had to use a bearing puller. Thought I was going to break the fingers off the puller.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 493
From: Salmon Arm, BC
I've done it that way on about seven cranks. I only had troubles with one....but it eventually came out.
One other tip I can add is if the dowel is slightly loose in the bushing, cut a 1" wide strip of paper and wrap it around the dowel, or whatever your using, until the dowel has a tight fit...tight enough that it requires a tap with a small hammer to get it in....then get out the big hammer and give it a good solid whack.....it'll pop right out. I've used this method several times
One other tip I can add is if the dowel is slightly loose in the bushing, cut a 1" wide strip of paper and wrap it around the dowel, or whatever your using, until the dowel has a tight fit...tight enough that it requires a tap with a small hammer to get it in....then get out the big hammer and give it a good solid whack.....it'll pop right out. I've used this method several times
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
There is a special tool you can use to keep the grease from getting all over you. It is called a shop rag! You wrap it around the punch and hold it in place with your hand!!!
I have had some luck with this procedure but it did not work with one bearing that was really tight. Had to use a bearing puller. Thought I was going to break the fingers off the puller.
I have had some luck with this procedure but it did not work with one bearing that was really tight. Had to use a bearing puller. Thought I was going to break the fingers off the puller.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
This is the easiest and fastest way to remove the bushing.I've used the grease method many times and it works very well but only if I want to save the bushing.(wooden dowel)